National Telescope national telescope newspaper
About 50,000 international students who were granted study permits to Canadian colleges and universities in 2024 failed to report to their schools, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Nigerians ranked third on the list of countries with the highest number of “no-shows,” trailing behind India and China.
The report, released in spring 2024, revealed that 3,900 Nigerians were among the students who did not attend their respective institutions.
India topped the list with 20,000 students, followed by China with 4,200.
Other countries in the top 10 included Ghana (2,700), Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Rwanda, and the Philippines.
Experts have linked the trend to fraudulent activities by agents, aspirations for permanent residency, and illegal border crossings into the U.S.
An immigration analyst stated, “Many students are victims of deceptive practices by unregulated agents who exploit their desire to study abroad, leaving them stranded or diverting their intentions.”
The increase in “no-shows” coincides with Canada’s efforts to manage immigration levels.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan aimed at achieving sustainable population growth.
This trend has sparked debates about the effectiveness of Canada’s compliance system for international students.
A concerned policy expert commented, “Canada must strengthen its monitoring mechanisms to ensure that study permits are issued to genuine students.
The system needs to balance welcoming global talent with safeguarding immigration policies.”
The Nigerian government is yet to respond to the report, but stakeholders are urging aspiring students to verify the authenticity of admission offers and use only accredited agents to avoid falling prey to scams.
